The Third Coast Atlas Redefines the Legacy of the Great Lakes

A new book of maps, photographs, and essays considers the rich historic legacy of land use and transportation on and around the Great Lakes.

1 minute read

December 23, 2017, 11:00 AM PST

By snewberg @JoeUrbanist


great lakes

NASA Goddard Space Flight / Flickr

The Great Lakes. Major architecture and landscape architecture ideas were tested here. The car gained prominence here. Ports gained prominence here. Edited by Charles Waldheim, Mason White, Clare Lyster, and Daniel Ibanez, the Third Coast Atlas is a cartographic and photographic essay of where the area around the Great Lakes has come from and where it stands today.

The Third Coast Atlas discusses many topics dealing with the Great Lakes through history, ranging from geology to early trade, and today's struggling rust belt cities. It also looks to the future with ideas like a "Free Water Zone," a mixed-use district where users can take free water from the Great Lakes for industrial uses as long as they return it in pristine condition. 

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